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Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA 6,552 Undergrads 89.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$84,261
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$50,570
After Aid
Median Earnings
$112,601
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$50,570
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$112,601Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$117,193Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate89.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients12.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS89.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
48.0%
SAT Avg
1,426
SAT Reading
25th: 67070075th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 68072075th: 760
ACT Composite
25th: 313275th: 33
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$926k
+$456k
+$440k
Median Cost$51k/yr
+$744k
+$274k
+$258k
Full Cost$84k/yr
+$623k
+$153k
+$136k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$51k/yr
33
142%
Full Cost$84k/yr
42
45%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return174%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-15%
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$16,249
Earnings (4yr)
$130,087
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,839
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$358k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,198
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,426
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$105,594
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$84,206
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$163,765
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$659k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,649
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$433k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$121,307
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$162,477
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$625k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,897
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$118,737
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$19,082
Earnings (4yr)
$75,430
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$153,926
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$585k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,723
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Mathematics and Computer Science
BachCIP: 3008
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$147,013
Natl Median: $118,943
Lifetime Value Added
+$533k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$16,304
Earnings (4yr)
$122,111
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,889
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,093
Earnings (4yr)
$93,518
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,742
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$98,929
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,700
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
PB-CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$115,965
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
+$428k
Master's Degrees
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
MastCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$88,639
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$92,990
Earnings (4yr)
$195,995
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$977k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$75,204
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$62,877
Earnings (4yr)
$77,194
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$231,929
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$1277k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,364
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$196,786
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$984k
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1517
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $117,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$201,267
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$988k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$47,583
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$170,120
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$755k
Religion/Religious Studies
MastCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,817
Earnings (4yr)
$79,448
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
Gr-CertCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,424
Natl Median: $100,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
DocCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$181,936
Earnings (4yr)
$148,599
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Mechanical Engineering
ProfCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.